Quote:
Originally Posted by beersportspoker
Heard he had a mental breakdown when Hitler betrayed him and invaded.
I've never really put much stock in this theory because both parties knew that Molotov–Ribbentrop was at best a temporary measure. Hitler and Stalin
despised each other, and their ideologies were diametrically opposed. Hitler had been the toast of the town in some Western European circles because he represented a counterweight to the communist menace. A confrontation was inevitable. The Soviets might have been caught off guard as to
when it would occur (Stalin might have figured Hitler would try and finish off Britain first), but I have trouble believing Stalin was really surprised when Barbarossa was given the go-ahead, let alone troubled enough to have a mental breakdown. Stalin was many things, but weak of mind wasn't one of them.